Railway-car truck



J. R. CARDWELL RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Dec. 11, 1928.

Filed Afig. 51, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11, 1928. J. R. CARDWELL RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 2 Sheets-S 2 heet Filed Aug. 31, 1927 Patented Dec. 1-1, 1928.

JAMES R. GARDWELL, OF GHICAGC ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-CAR TRUCK.

Application filed August 31, 1927. Serial No. 216,511:

The invention relates particularly to the supports for the truck bolster of railway cars; its object being to provide, in connection with the usual spring supports, frictional elements for absorbing the more severe shocks due to relative vertical movement of the car body and the truck, thereby preventing the breakage of the side frames and relieving the springs from complete compression.

One form of the invention is hereinafter described, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the car truck embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar ,view of the central portion of the truck frame, the truck bolster and supporting device being shown in section and the latter under full compression;

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; a I 4 Fig. 4 are views in perspective of the several movable friction elements of the device;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the stationary wedging elements;

. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a wear plate for facing the stationary elements;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the side frame showing a modified form of construction; and

Fig. .8 is a detail of a modification ofcertain of the parts.

In railroad practice-it is essential that the car body be yieldingly supported upon the trucks in order to relieve it and the lading from excessive shocks due to irregularities in the track or any other cause of vertical movement of the trucks. In present practice such yielding support takes the form of springs interposed between the truck bolster and the lower arch ofthe trucks. Springs are employed which are of ample strength to support the body and lading without being materially compressed. These springs offer sufficient resistance to slight shocks, but are not capable of absorbing the stresses 'of severe shocks, which are transmitted through them to the side frame and frequently cause the fracture of the latter. Furthermore, the complete compression of the springs causes them to take a permanent set, thereby re ducing their efliciency.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown at 10 the side frame, in arch form, of a car truck, and at 11, 11, a pair of supporting wheels. The truck bolster of the car is shown at 12, and, as usual, each ofits ends is sup ported by springs 13, the bolster having vertical movement between a pair of columns or guidebars 14, 15, which formparts of the side frame of the truck.

In practice heretofore prevailing these springs have been seated directly upon the lower arch 16 of the truck, which connects the lower ends of the columns 14, 15. The present invention provides for the introduc tion, between these springs and the member .16, of a series of wedging elements.

I Such elements comprise apair of stationary blocks 17, 18, fitted within the angles at the uncture of the columns 14, 15, and the frame I member 16, their outer faces being upwardly and backwardly inclined; a pair of double faced wedge blocks 19, 20, in the form of inverted truncated cones, their flattened apexes normally resting upon the frame member 16, and one inclined face of each bearin upon the inclined face of one of the statlonary blocks; a pair of triangular wedge-blocks 21, 22, seated upon the member 16 and each engaging the inner wedge face of one of the .blocks 19, 20; and a central double faced wedge-block 23 interposed between and hear ing upon the blocks 21, 22. v

The blocks 19, 20, constitute seats for the springs 13. The central block 23 has an upwardly projecting stem 24 projecting into a pocket in a downstanding rib 25 formed on the bolster 12. The smallerend of the wedgeblock 23 is flattened, and is normally spaced from the frame member 16, and its stem is of such length that it normally is spaced from the bottom of the pocket in the rib 25. A light spring 26, preferably in leaf form, is

interposed between the end of the stem 24 and. -the bottom of the pocket, and holds the several wedge elements in contact.

Light shocks are fully absorbed by the springs 13, the wedge elements remaining at rest. Shocks which are sufficiently severe to more than completely compress the spring 26 move the central wedge-block 23 downwardly,

forcing the blocks 21, 22, laterally, thereby .wedging the blocks 19, 20, upwardly agalnst the resistance of the springs. 13. The friction developed between the several wedge blocks and between the'blocks 21, 22,; and the member 16 is sufficient, to absorb, in great measure, the stresses of the more severe shocks, and thus greatly relieve the side frames. The limit of compression is reached when the central wedge 23 malges contact with erably so proportioned that the springs 13 are never fully compressed. The wedge elements 17, 18, may be obviously cast integral with the side frame (as shown in Fig. 7), the guiding'faces of thecolumns 14, 15, between which the bolster slides, being somewhat shortened to provide clearance for assembling. Preferably, however,-the elements 17 18, are formed as separate blocks adapted to fit snugly within the frameangles. When made they may be provided with downstanding end flanges for overlapping the outer and inner faces of the member 1 i If desired the elements 17, 18, may be provided with plate extensions 28, 29, projecting from the lower margins of their inclined faces, the two plates having mortise and tenon engagement and being provided with upstanding ribs at their side margins for preventing movement of the wedge elements 19 to 22 transversely of the framemember 16.

Wear plates as 30 may be inserted between contacting faces of the wedge elements, for example as shown between the elements 17 and 19, and 18 and 20, the plate being held in position by means of a rib thereon fitting within a complementary groove in the wedge face. The central wedge element 23 is held against lateral movement by the walls of the pocket which its stem enters.

The scope of the invention is broader than the embodiment disclosed, and will include any form of friction devices introduced into the side frames of a car truck for absorbing the shocks due to relative movement of the car body and truck.

For example, the i version of the shock absorbing devices, the sgarings being below and the wedges above, would be within the scope of the invention. Again, the form of the wedging elements'ma be varied, as by using single faced wedge locks in place of the blocks 19, 20,-one face being vertical and only frictionally engaging the element with which it makes contact. All of the possible variants of the device have not been suggested.

I claim as my invention-'- 1. In a car truck, a side frame comprising a pair of columns .and a tie member uniting the lower ends thereof, a bolster slidably engaging the columns, springs supporting the bolster, and a system of wedging elements interposed between the bolster and frame and carrying the springs.

wardly inclined wedging of the springs for actuating the wedging elements.

3. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster,-

ly divi ed tray supported by the arch and.

having upwardl and outwardly inclined wedging faces aifi double faced wedge blocks engaging the wedging faces of the tray, a pair of triangular wedge-blocks seated in the tray and engaging, respectively, the first-named blocks, a double faced wedging element interposed between the triangular blocks and having a stem engageable by the bolster, and springs reacting between the bolster and the firstnamed blocks.

5. A transversely divided tray for containing a system of wedging elements in a railway car truck, and having u wardly and outfiices.

6. A wedge-block for car trucks having a contour complementary to the angle included between'the lower arch member-and a columnof the truck frame, and a wedging face which is backwardly and upwardly inclined when the block is seated in suchangle.

7. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means supporting the bolster, and a acent to its-ends, a pair of system of wedging elements interposed be- 8. In a car truck, a side frame having upright columns and a tie member uniting the lower ends thereof, a bolster slidable between the columns, springs for supporting the bolster, a pair of flaring Wedge faces at the juncture of the columns and the tie member, double faced wedging elements engaging such faces and forming seats for the springs, a pair of triangular wedge blocks supported by the tie member and each engaging a. face of the last named blocks, and a spreading wedge interposed between the triangular blocks and havinIg a stem engageable by the bolster.

9. n a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening between columns, a bolster held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the columns, but movable up and down between them, springs supportin the bolster on the frame, a system of we ging elements between and confined laterally by the columns, laterally disposed elements of said'system having up and down movement and receivin the thrust of said springs'and a centrally disposed double. acting element held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the columns, but movable up and down between them, spring means support: ing the bolster on the frame, a system of wed ing elements between and confined lateral y by the columns, two laterally disposed elements of said system receiving the thrust of said spring means and having vertical movement against the resistance of said spring means, an intermediately located element of said system having vertical moveentin a direction opposite to that of said laterally disposed element and receiving thrust independent of said spring means when the bolster descends and said centrally located element acting under such thrust to move the laterally disposed elements through ments.

intermediately located laterally movable ele- 11. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening between columns, a bolster held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the columns but movable up and down between them, supporting spring means and a system of wedging elements between the bolster and the frame, oneof said elements receivin and a system of wedging elements etween.

the bolster and the frame, said system including two laterally disposed elements each receivin thrust from the spring means and a centra 1y located double acting element receiving thrust independently of the spring means when the .bolster descends and acting on the laterally disposed elements'throug intermediate elements.

13. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening between columns a bolster held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the columnsbut movable up and down between them, supportingspri means and a system of wedging elements etween the thrust of the spring means and movab e against the resistance of the bolster and the frame, one of said elementsreceiving the thrust of the spring means and movable against the'resistance of the spring means and a centrally located one of said elements receiving thrust independently of the spring means when the bolster descends and acting on the first mentioned element through an intermediate element.

14. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening between columns, a bolster held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the columns but movable up and down between them, spring means supporting the bolster and a system of wedging elements interposed between the bolster and the frame and operated independently of and against the resistance of the spring means when the bolster descends.

15. In a car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening between columns, a bolster held against movement lengthwise to the frame by the column but movable up and down between them, spring means supporting the bolster and a system of wedging elements interposed between the bolster and the frame and operated independently of and against the resistance of. the spring means when the bolster descends, said systems in cluding two laterally disposed elements having vertical movement against the action of v the spring means and being held against lateral movement in one direction by the columns, an intermediate element receiving thrust from the bolster, and acting through intermediate elements to cause vertical movement of the laterally disposed elements.

16. In acar truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a bolsterin said opening, spring means supporting the bolster on the side frame and a friction shock absorber including a system of elements interposed in series between the bolster, the sideframe and the springme'ans whereby movement of the system caused b downward pressure of th bolster indepen ent of the spring means is resisted b pressure of the bolster transmitted throu h t e spring means.

. 17. n a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, vertically movable relatively to the frame, springs supporting the bolster, wedging elements supporting the springs, a-thrust mem her for actuatin the wedgmg elements and JAMES-R. oannwnnn engageable by t e bolster after the initial. 

